Providing Culturally Competent Acute Care Physical Therapy for a Complex Medical Patient of Amish Heritage

Discussion: Physical therapists may be unfamiliar with patients of Amish heritage due to the infrequency of PT services used by these individuals. This case report demonstrates a physical therapist's sensitivity to and acceptance of the Amish cultural beliefs, which ensured appropriate clinical decisions and positive patient- and family-centered outcomes. Engaging the patient's family in dialogue about realistic discharge options early in the acute care stay allowed the family time to understand the complexity of the patient's diagnoses and challenges of the health care environment as well as align decisions with their cultural beliefs.
Source: The Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy - Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Case Report Source Type: research